Find out how popular the last name Gooding is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Gooding.

Gooding, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Gooding surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gooding in America

Gooding is the 4942nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gooding surname appeared 7,123 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Gooding.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gooding to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Gooding

The surname Gooding originated in England, with roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English word "goding," which means "good" or "goodly." This name was likely given as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who was considered virtuous or of good character.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Gooding can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is mentioned in connection with various locations across the country, including Wiltshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Gooding evolved into various spellings, such as Goodinge, Goodwyn, and Gooden. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of local scribes who recorded the names.

Notable individuals with the surname Gooding throughout history include John Gooding (1570-1630), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Dorchester. Another prominent figure was William Gooding (1798-1859), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a vice-admiral.

In the literary realm, the name is associated with John Gooding (1792-1855), an English poet and essayist who wrote several works on religious and moral themes. Additionally, Reginald Gooding (1909-1988) was a renowned British biblical scholar and translator who contributed significantly to the field of biblical studies.

The surname Gooding has also been associated with notable Americans, such as Samuel Gooding (1719-1783), a prominent merchant and patriot during the American Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress and played a significant role in the political and economic affairs of the colony.

These are just a few examples of individuals bearing the surname Gooding who have left their mark on history, spanning various fields and time periods. The name's origins as a descriptive term for someone of good character have endured through the centuries, reflecting the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gooding

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Gooding.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Gooding was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Gooding has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Gooding was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gooding, please contact us.

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